History Main / HeroicHeelizationSpeech

* Like in its original inspiration, the aforementioned ''What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?'', {{Franchise/Superman}} in both ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'' and the comic book source of said animated story. During their final fight, Superman takes a number of gruesome hits, to lull his opponents into a false sense of security, then uncorks a larger fraction of his full power, using it to present the illusion that he is killing each member of The Elite. When Manchester Black calls him on this, he replies that he finally understands what it is that they've been trying to tell him, and from now on he's going to be fighting crime their way. Unfortunately for them, they're going to be the first people he uses their new philosophy on. [[spoiler: Fortunately for them, also like in the comic, he was [=BSing=] them to make a point.]]

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'': Renegade Shepard can [[ExploitedTrope use this trope as a persuasion tactic]] to get the Migrant Fleet to stand down during the final battle of the Rannoch storyline. Specifically, they remind the belligerent quarians how Shepard has saved them in 'VideoGame/MassEffect1'' and again in a prior mission of ''3'', then tells them that now they are facing ''another'' threat of the same magnitude and that Shepard is ''done'' saving them if they cannot just for once listen to reason. This has the intended effect and the quarians stand down, unlocking the GoldenEnding.

* In ''Literature/TheParadoxesofMrPond'' by Creator/GKChesterton, the story "When Doctors Agree" is an extended version of this. Doctor Campbell spends the story destroying his student's Presbyterian faith, in order to get him to agree that it's justifiable to commit murder for the good of society. Once he's convinced his student, he then boasts that he's committed at least one murder in accordance with this philosophy. His student promptly and fatally removes ''him'' from society.

* Deconstructed in ''Literature/Worm'' with Jack Slash to [[spoiler:Scion. Scion was always going to go on a murderous spree, and Jack only caused it to happen about a decade earlier.]]

'''Charlie Collins''': You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. ''(reveals a Joker bomb)'' This is how it ends, Joker. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley]] alongside [[IronicEcho a miserable little nobody]]. Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou that's really the only dream you've got]], isn't it?

* In ''The Paradoxes of Mr Pond'' by Creator/GKChesterton, the story "When Doctors Agree" is an extended version of this. Doctor Campbell spends the story destroying his student's Presbyterian faith, in order to get him to agree that it's justifiable to commit murder for the good of society. Once he's convinced his student, he then boasts that he's committed at least one murder in accordance with this philosophy. His student promptly and fatally removes ''him'' from society.

* ''Webcomic/SuperStupor'': {{Discussed}}. At [[http://www.superstupor.com/sust12282010.shtml one point]], the supervillain The Anarch explains to Punchline (a hero he had captive) his plan to [[MaddenIntoMisanthropy madden his nemesis]], the Cosmic Crusader, [[MaddenIntoMisanthropy into misanthropy]] by [[AndYourLittleDogToo forcing him to trigger a deathtrap that would kill his girlfriend]]. Punchline is mainly excited about the chance to see a villain commit "suicide by hero."

A hero giving this speech may slide into AntiHero or [[FaceHeelTurn villain]] territory: whether the hero goes all the way over to the dark side or not depends on whether the hero is seriously going dark, or is just making a point, and whether or not [[MoralityChain someone is there]] to stop him/her. Sometimes, a hero making this speech can have good sense slapped into him/her by a fellow hero or the people they've saved before reminding the hero of the good the hero has done.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE22JokersFavor Joker's Favor]]", {{Everyman}} Charlie Collins gives one of these to ComicBook/TheJoker, of all people, after Joker has terrorized him and his family for years.

* ''VisualNovel/FullMetalDaemonMuramasa'' concludes with one of these as the main character Kageaki decides to take minor villain Ichizo's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to heart and finally decides to drop his whole HeroicWannabe and GuiltComplex shtick and become the villain he had always seen himself as.

** "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E19InThePaleMoonlight In the Pale Moonlight]]": [[TheCaptain Sisko]] violently confronts Garak about his scheming and the resulting deaths, and gets a scathing BreakingSpeech in response. The episode ends with Sisko finishing [[FramingDevice his personal log of the episode's events]] with this trope. Its a little ambiguous whether the sentiment is genuine or if he's just trying to convince ''himself'' he's comfortable violating his principles and morality (and covering it up to maintain the ruse) if it means giving TheFederation a fighting chance in a HopelessWar. Sisko then deletes the log entry, completing the cover-up of the crimes he and Garak committed together.

* ''FanficTalesOfTheCanterlotDeportationAgency'': {{Discussed}} in ''Divine Intersection''. When Joanna accuses Bree of being a demon, Bree casually pins her down, puts her hand to her throat, and points out that if she really ''is'' a demon, there's no reason for her to not just ''squeeze''.

* ''FanficTalesOfTheCanterlotDeportationAgency'': {{Discussed}} in ''Divine Intersection''. When Joanna accuses Bree of being a demon, Bree casually pins her down, puts her hand to her throat, and points out that if she really ''is'' a demon. There's no reason for her to not just ''squeeze''.

* In ''ComicBook/WhatsSoFunnyAboutTruthJusticeAndTheAmericanWay'', Franchise/{{Superman}} appears to have gone this route. If the world is looking for him to be pushed over the edge by DarkerAndEdgier heroes, then he'll give them a DarkerAndEdgier Superman. It's terrifying. [[spoiler:This was, in fact, a ruse to make the world realize just how dangerous the Elite's worldview really is.]]

[[folder:Fan Fic]]
* Gadget does this in the ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' fanfic "[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/582131/1/Gadget-in-Chains Gadget in Chains]]". After being [[FrameUp framed]] for a crime she didn't commit and thrown in a hellhole of a prison in place of her EvilTwin Lawhiney, an escaping Gadget happens upon Lawhiney on the road. When Gadget figures out who it is she is dealing with, and exactly how big the scam is, that, combined with some of the things she had to do to get out of prison, make her give a speech about how easy it is to not give a damn, before beating the tar out of Lawhiney and trying to kill her.

-->'''Superman:''' Easy there. You've got him.
-->'''Black Adam:''' It changes you, does it not? The power.
-->'''Captain Marvel:''' It only changes that I can choose my own fate now.
-->'''Black Adam:''' Like a god, maybe.
-->'''Superman:''' That's enough.
-->'''Captain Marvel:''' No, I have to. To protect them.
-->'''Superman:''' How? By being like him?
-->'''Captain Marvel:''' By being stronger than him.
-->'''Superman:''' Then be strong. Be good.

* There is a Music/{{Vocaloid}} song called "Boss Death" that focuses on the moral ambiguities between heroes and villains, and the pointlessness of trying to save the day when eventually you will be hated or become the monster you fought. Finally the hero declares that everything she loved is gone and that she no longer has a heart--all she cares about is killing the villain.

* ''VideoGame/{{Section 8}}: Prejudice'' has a [[TheReveal Reveal]] halfway through that the reason [[AbsentAliens there are no aliens in the setting]] is because humans killed them all. At the end, the BigBad tells [[PlayerCharacter Captain Corde]] that "the Empire is built on the graves of millions". Corde more or less agrees, but as the BigBad couldn't come up with any better solution than killing an entire colony of civilians pretty much at random...

-->'''White Mage:''' The School of White Magic teaches us that there is a natural order to all things. A place and purpose for every person and event. \\
'''Black Mage:''' Go on. \\
'''White Mage:''' [[YouCantFightFate Fighting our role in the fate of things is futile.]] \\
'''Black Mage:''' [-''C'mon'' personal epiphany!-] \\
'''White Mage:''' It's pretty obvious at this point that I am no great healer. I am ''not'' the one that will bring order to [[CrapsackWorld a dying and chaotic world]]. \\
'''Black Mage:''' [-Almost there...-] \\
'''White Mage:''' There is no point in denying it any longer. I am White Mage, a destroyer of worlds! \\

* ''Webcomic/SuperStupor'': Discussed. At [[http://www.superstupor.com/sust12282010.shtml one point]], the supervillain The Anarch explains to Punchline (a hero he had captive) his plan to [[MaddenIntoMisanthropy madden his nemesis]], the Cosmic Crusader, [[MaddenIntoMisanthropy into misanthropy]] by [[AndYourLittleDogToo forcing him to trigger a deathtrap that would kill his girlfriend]]. Punchline is mainly excited about the chance to see a villain commit "suicide by hero."

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''. In the series premiere/movie, Goliath references a statement made to him by Demona earlier in the movie, where she asks him to go to war on humanity. After she is apparently killed by Xanatos, Goliath goes to throw him off his tower, stating (paraphrase) that she suggested that he go to war with the world and that Xanatos would be a good place to start. [[spoiler: Elisa talks him down by saying if he killed Xanatos than he would be no different from Demona.]]

-->'''The Joker''': You miserable little nobody! If I get caught, your wife and son are history!
-->'''Charlie Collins''': You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. ''(reveals a Joker bomb)'' This is how it ends, Joker. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley]] alongside [[IronicEcho a miserable little nobody.]] Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou that's really the only dream you've got]], isn't it?

* ''Videogame/MegaManZero:'' In the FinalBoss fight against Dr. Weil, the latter taunts Zero whether the former - a "hero fighting for justice and humanity" - can harm him, a human. Zero's response is that he never cared about justice or being a hero in the first place - he has only ever fought for those he believed in.

* Occasionally random mooks will try to play the NotSoDifferent card on Franchise/{{Batman}}. The standard response is for him to point out that if he does decide to go over the edge into killing criminals, the first victim is likely to be the jerk insulting him within arm's reach.

** Later on, he gets a similar taste of this from Waylon, who tries to give Will a dose of NotSoDifferent by pointing out that they're both only doing what they do out of a self-serving interest, and that Will's idealism merely comes from a desire to appease himself and feel better. Will ''agrees'', but counters that since it is, in fact, helping people it's 100% worth it. Waylon [[VillainousBreakdown does not take it well]].

'''Cosmic Crusader hand-puppet'''(on Punchline's right foot): "My one true love is dead. [[FaceHeelTurn All good and hope is folly!]] I will now aid her killer in world conquest."\\

'''Cosmic Crusader hand-puppet'''(on Punchline's left foot): "Well, fuck. Y'know, I always wanted to see if I could pull a nervous system outta someone without tearing it. [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge And look! A volunteer!]]"\\
(BeatPanel)\\

-->'''Charlie Collins''': You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. ''(reveals a Joker bomb)'' This is how it ends, Joker. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley alongside a miserable little nobody.]] Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou that's really the only dream you've got]], isn't it?

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E11And12ABetterWorld A Better World]]" starts in an AlternateUniverse where Superman corners President ComicBook/LexLuthor in the White House. Luthor is trying to escape after a [[NoodleIncident plot that has apparently gone terribly wrong]] at some point ''after'' he deliberately murdered ComicBook/TheFlash. Luthor is about to launch some device (possibly nukes) but is told by Superman that he can stop him. Luthor taunts Superman, saying that Superman's ego is the whole reason for this mess (because Superman could have ''killed'' him anytime [[ThouShaltNotKill but didn't]]) and goes on to gloat that the worst thing that will happen is he will go to jail for a while before breaking out and starting the whole thing all over again. Superman calmly agrees and says it's time for him to take responsibility for his role in Luthor's villainy... before frying him with his heat vision.

Compare WorldOfCardboardSpeech for when a breaking speech results in a hero accessing their true potential in a positive way. See HannibalLecture (only when the one causing the realization has been captured by the one having the realization) and BreakingSpeech for what can cause this to begin with. Contrast KirkSummation, which is more about pointing out the flaws/evilness in the villain's EvilPlan.

Enter the Heroic Heelization Speech: the unintended result of a successful attempt to make the heroes question their self-worth, motivation, and goals. On these occasions, the heroes, upon being given the breaking speech, agree with every word the villain has said, that they are acting out a fantasy savior complex, or that the [[CrapsackWorld world is otherwise so lost]] that their actions have no worth anyway. The heroes will then go on to explain how these newfound realizations given to them by their antagonist have shown them that there's no reason why they can't give the villains a healthy taste of their own medicine.

-->'''Charlie Collins''': You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. ''(reveals a Joker bomb)'' This is how it ends, Joker. No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley alongside a miserable little nobody. Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and that's really the only dream you've got, isn't it?

* In ''What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?'', Franchise/{{Superman}} appears to have gone this route. If the world is looking for him to be pushed over the edge by DarkerAndEdgier heroes, then he'll give them a DarkerAndEdgier Superman. It's terrifying. [[spoiler:This was, in fact, a ruse to make the world realize just how dangerous the Elite's worldview really is.]]